Chapter Twenty

 A few hours later…

The wind blew Tidus' stark blonde hair backwards as he looked around in the late evening's light.  He was watching Yuna's every action, every strand of her hair, and every part of her elegant movements as she danced her dance. 

She was performing another sending.  The day's horrific battle had cost for many soldiers on both sides the ultimate sacrifice.  Although they had suppressed the Bevelle army, by sheer luck and timing of the Warrior Monks, it was hardly a "victory."  Many parts of the ground are still stained almost as crimson as Auron's attire.  Tidus glanced to his right at the thought of the wary warrior.  Auron returned the look before muttering a "humph."

"And you said the next time we'd meet we would be walking down the streets of Bevelle," he started.  "Victoriously at that."

"I know," Tidus replied.  "We still have that part to do."

"Are you ready?" Auron asked.

"Yes," Tidus responded. "When do we move out?"

"As soon as she's finished," Auron said, turning his head in Yuna's direction.  "It'll be dark then."

"Do we have to take her along?" Tidus asked hesitantly.

"That is your decision," Auron started.  "But she is a valuable fighter.  Also she makes you a better soldier just from her presence."

"I guess I should," he admitted.  "She would be mad as Hell if I didn't"

"True," Auron replied solemnly. 

A long silence ensued as both warriors watched the mystical sending. 

"Why didn't Luzzu use his powers today?" Tidus questioned, as if the statement suddenly hit him.  The idea of Leviathan in the battlefield during the heat of battle sent chills up his spine.

"His cover would have been blown."

"Huh?" Tidus questioned.

"If he revealed his power to the world, in an attempt to destroy us, it would in turn destroy him.  His ability to use the Crusaders is based on the fact of an 'unknown threat' destroyed Besaid.  If he were to summon the beast, or use any of the powers granted to him by his personal Fayth, then the world would know that he is more than what meets the eye."

"Ahh," Tidus started.  "I see."

With that Tidus turned around and started walking absently around camp.  The battle had been massive, and although it seems as if his side won, it was a bitter victory today.  What was left of the army he entered battle with this morning were scattered around a series of campfires.  They were also intermingling with the warrior monks that Auron still has seniority over.  Most of them were passed out due to emotional trauma, fatigue, or both. 

A nagging feeling crept up on Tidus as he saw his friends and fighters scattered here in plain view of the Bevelle Castle.  I hate using them as decoys, he thought bitterly.  The idea of using these people to occupy the field in plain sight didn't set well with him.  Although it was the logical thing to do, it still wasn't an easy pill to swallow.  Everything was working as planned so far, he thought, thinking immediately of his Dad.  Yeah old man, you really knew what to do this time.  Lets hope you still have all the cards. 

Suddenly the nagging feeling got worse, almost to the point to where he had to double over.  It wasn't the feeling of using his comrades as decoys; it was something else, something deeper.  Tidus suddenly realized what it was:  it was the feeling that something bad is going to happen.  Premonition? his mind asked.  I don't know, he answered himself.  I would just feel better if Yuna wasn't going with us.  He turned his eyes back toward her.  He could see that she was walking his way, done with her duty.  It's time, he thought.

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The water of the Via Portrufico was cold.  Tidus couldn't help but shiver as his body bubbled back to the surface after he plunged in.  Behind him he heard a dozen other splashes as more and more people jumped in behind him. 

"I don't remember it being this cold, ya?" he heard Wakka say. 

"Or this dark," Rikku replied.

Yeah, Tidus thought.  It does seem to be darker and colder.

"Don't move," Lulu said.  Suddenly a fireball appeared perfectly suspended a few feet above the water.  "Better?" she asked.

"Yeah," Tidus replied.  "Much.  Hey, how did you make it through here Auron?" he asked, turning to the waterlogged monk.  "When you came through to recruit the warrior monks?"

"Instinct," Auron replied with a smirk on his face.

"Let's get moving ya?" Wakka said behind them, swimming up towards the front.

"Okay," Tidus said, kicking his legs forward and following the flame as it flickered down the musty tunnel. 

"How far is it down this way before the tunnel splits?" Yuna asked after a while of swimming in the murky water.

There was no reply.

"Auron?" she said, turning to look at him.

"Be very still," he said in a hushed tone. 

Tidus immediately stopped swimming.  He could feel that something was in the water.  Seconds later a strong current blasted by him and he heard Yuna gasp in surprise.  Suddenly a cry emitted from the depths of the tunnel and the water bubbled as if it was suddenly on a large open fire.

"What is that?" Wakka asked.

"Trouble," Auron replied bringing his katana to bear. 

Suddenly a large serpent creature rose from the black water and stared the intruders with insane red eyes.

"Auron?" Tidus asked, never taking his eyes off of the beast before him.

"We have no other way," came his response.

"Wakka, Rikku," Tidus started.  "With me."

With that, Tidus plunged underwater as the fighting began.  The fireball that provided light had swelled to massive proportions as Lulu casted Firaga on the creature.  Yuna started unloading clips at the beast, but her bullets were off the mark because she was kicking her legs trying to stay afloat.  The creature lunged forward sending a wave of water her way.  She kicked her legs more to stay on the surface but the wave collapsed over her, sending water down her esophagus.  She broke water again only to start coughing and flailing her arms wildly.  Another wave crashed and she went under again.

Underneath the surface Tidus plunged his Brotherhood into the scaly surface of the water fiend.  Through the water he could hear its muffled scream.  Rikku flanked the creature, and then dug her claws into its spine, twisting away flesh and blood.  Wakka threw his blitzball at the creature, momentarily blinding it while Tidus slashed away some more.

Auron found himself totally helpless.  Due to the weight of his weapon, all he could hope to do is to hold himself afloat by grasping the wall and hope that some part of the beast came within striking distance.  If he dared to swim outward, the weight of his Katana would push him under.  Auron was disgusted with his lack of abilities.  He winced as he heard Brother's shot ring out, sending the blast echoing horribly off the confined tunnel.  As his eyes traced the battle, he noticed movement in the water to the left. He immediately recognized what it was and turned to face the wall.  He drew his massive Katana and slammed it into the wall, crudely sticking half of it inside the concrete.  He then turned around and leapt into the water as fast as he could.

Yuna felt her hope wash away with every waning second.  How long had she been underwater?  She didn't know.  She kicked her legs with every ounce of her soul but the water currents caused by the large fiend kept pulling her under.  Her only thoughts kept drifting to Tidus.  Tidus, her mind called out, hoping that somehow she could reach out to him.  Please help.  She kicked her legs again but to no avail.  Suddenly her arms brushed up against something.  She reached frantically for whatever it was, but the current had pushed her down farther.  Something then grasped hard at her hand.  At first she thought the fiend had come for her, wanting to kill the last bit of life out of her.  Then she realized that it was something far smaller but still of equal strength as it pulled her up.  Tidus, her mind thought.  She then broke the surface and gasped for air as if it was the first breath she had ever taken.  Her eyes opened and she draped around the figure before her. 

"Tidus," she said in between breaths.  "Thank you so much.  I thought I was dead.  I love you."

When she received no reply she swung her head back to look him in the face.

"Ohh," she said, surprise overtaking her.  "Auron," she started.  "I'm sorry….I mean, thanks.  I mean…"

"It's okay," he replied grinning sarcastically at her. 

Suddenly a small grunt came from the crimson-clad warrior as his body became heavy in the water.  Yuna noticed a trickle of blood running down the side of his face.  She also noticed a pair of red eyes glowing at her in the darkness behind Auron. 

"No," she said gathering her strength.  With every passing second Auron became heavier and started pushing them both underwater.  "No," she repeated, still trying to focus her mind.  She closed her eyes as a wave came up and slapped her in the face.

"Holy!!" she screamed out, pouring her entire strength into one spell.

Just when the water level eclipsed her forehead she was pulled backwards towards the wall.  She let out a small muffled scream while still holding onto Auron's limp body.  "Kimahri has you," she heard behind her. 

"Kima-" she started.  Water rushed into her mouth causing her to cough repeatedly.  "Au…," she started, fighting the water in her windpipe.  "Au…..Auron," she finally pleaded.  As Kimahri reached for his set of Elixirs, the hallway was bathed in harsh white light.  The light grew so bright that Yuna had to squint her eyes against it.  Several beams of laser-like light streamed down the tunnel and impaled the serpent directly behind its head.  The creature screamed one last time, throwing what remained of his head into the air, and then slowly sank into the bottom of the water.

"Uahhhhh," Yuna heard behind her.  She turned to see Auron lying on a walking ledge on the side of the tunnel.  Kimahri was towering over him, with an empty Elixir in his hands.  "Ahhh," Auron exclaimed as he slowly rose to a sitting position. 

"Auron?" Yuna asked hesitantly while swimming to their side of the tunnel  

"How did we fare?" the elder monk questioned, still obviously exasperated from the ordeal. 

"We won," she answered.  "This time."

"Good," he replied, rising to his feet with the help of Kimahri and Wedge, who lowered his rifle to help the warrior in his attempt to get vertical.

"There you go," Wedge said.  "Rest yourself," he commented as he propped him against the wall.

"No time for rest," he replied.  "We have a mission at hand."

"Suit yourself," Wedge said, shrugging his shoulders.

With a splash, Tidus emerged from the water, shaking his head like a dog trying to dry itself off.  Two subsequent splashes signaled that Wakka and Rikku were no worse for wear.

"Hey," Tidus said, wiping his wet hair out of his eyes.  "What is that?" he questioned, pointing behind Kimahri and a now semi-fresh Auron.  Auron painfully turned to follow Tidus' gaze.  He saw light trickling in from a vent overhead, with a ladder on the wall leading upwards.

"That is where we enter," Auron said collectively. 

"All of us?" Yuna asked, trying to remember the exact infiltration plan.

"No," Auron answered.  "Just the lucky souls who get to fight Luzzu head-on.  Everyone else follow me down the tunnel toward the lab.  There's another way in."

"So this is where we split up," Tidus said, pulling himself out of the water and sitting on the ledge.

"Indeed."

"We'll," Tidus turned as he faced his friends.  "Let's do this."

A battle party of Tidus, Yuna, Brother, Cid, and Biggs climbed the ladder towards the ventilation shaft above.  Auron led the way farther down the tunnel with Lulu, Wakka, Rikku, Wedge, and Kimahri into the darkness that awaited them.

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"Someone's approaching from the south," Zev Ronso proclaimed.

"What?" Abel asked quickly.  "Where?"

"There," the Ronso pointed. 

Abel's eyes focused as he was trying to decipher if the person was friend or foe.  He was tall with long hair and a rough exterior.  "Arm yourselves." Abel said still focused on the figure walking in the moonlight.  There was a flurry of activity as the resting soldiers reached for their weapons and advanced on the figure, now no more than 20 yards away from the camp. 

"Who goes there?" Zev said, pointing his spear at the person.  The figure stopped, as if this wasn't what he expected.  A husky voice floated up to the camp.

"A friend," it said. 

"How do we know for sure?" Abel called out.

"Whose in charge here?" the figure asked, completely disregarding the last question.

"I am," Abel responded.

"Where's Tidus?"

"None of your business," Abel said, his heart beating steadily faster.

At that the figure started laughing as if that was the funniest joke in the world.

"Who are you?" Abel asked to the insane laughing man.

The figure then stepped forward into the light from the campfire, undoubtedly not scared by the assortment of weapons pointed at him.  "My name is Jecht and I'm here to tell you that Lord Luzzu has sent for reinforcements from Luca.  And if you want to get out of here alive you had better lower you're weapons and we had better start making preparations."

Jecht, Abel's mind thought.  Tidus' father?  But isn't he…?  After a moments worth of pondering he decided that, if Auron is fighting from beyond the Farplane, it is distinctly possible that Jecht will too. 

"How do you know this?" Abel asked.

"Because I was once Sin, and I know more than you do, pencil-pusher."

"Lower your weapons," Abel instructed.  "And let's talk."

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An explosion rocked the floor as smoke rose up to the ceiling.  Tidus burst through what was left of the ventilation plate as fast as he could, his Brotherhood already out and ready to strike.  To his surprise, there was no enemy to fight. He glanced both ways to get his bearings.  He was in some kind of hallway, with bright fluorescent lights beaming down overhead.  He turned around to see Brother halfway perched out of the ragged hole.  He had his feet on the ladder and his rifle in his hands, glancing around looking for resistance.

"All clear," Tidus said.  Brother jumped up and out of the way so Yuna, Cid, and Biggs could clear out.

"Which way did Auron say to go?" Tidus asked.

"That way," Yuna pointed.  "To the staircase.  He said the stairs will take us all the way to the top floor where Luzzu's chamber is."

"Okay, let's move." Tidus said taking the lead.  He walked quickly down the hallway until it intersected with another in a T-junction.  Not exactly sure which way to go he turned right, straight into a security officer on patrol.  With three quick slashes of the sword he disposed of the guard. 

"We should get to the top as soon as possible," Cid said, staring downward at the dead body.  "Ain't no way of telling how many more there are.  Plus if there on a patrol, somebody's gonna notice that this feller is gone and cut up.  And that means bad news for us."

"As soon as possible?" Tidus questioned.

"Yep," Cid started.  "Probably should."

"Then keep up old man," Tidus replied.  He then turned and sprinted down the hallway and started running up the stairwell.  Sixty-four flights, his mind said.  Keep up the pace.

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"So what do you suggest?" Abel started, his voice trembling a bit.

"Got any ale?" Jecht responded.

"No," Abel replied looking across the campfire as Jecht eased himself down onto a log.

"We'll then that's a bad start," Jecht replied.  "The Lucan army is going to be here in about an hour.  They think that they can march in here, under the cover of darkness and wipe out everyone."

"Can they?" Abel asked.  "How big is this army?"

"Pretty big," Jecht started.  "Two squadrons big.  You know the reinforcements Bevelle sent after your fake retreat?"

"Yeah," Abel responded.

"Well that was planned by me," Jecht said, completely off topic.  "Anyway.  That was three squadrons.  So they have a good amount of soldiers headed this way."

"You said they would arrive while it's still dark?" Abel said, pondering his options.

"Yeah," Jecht said.

"What if we could use that to our advantage, and not theirs?"

"Hmph," Jecht said.  "I like the way you think."

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"Shhh," Auron said tensing his body.  It looked as if his entire body was listening.  Footsteps, his mind said.  Coming this way.  He couldn't tell how many there were but he knew that it was more than plenty.  It only takes one to call for backup, his mind thought.

He had considered himself and his companions pretty lucky thus far.  They had emerged out of the underground tunnel that is Via Portrufico unscathed.  His little party had actually worked their way in silence without being detected.  He knew that the laboratory was close.  The footsteps coming his way probably signified that a patrol was being used.  That meant something was guarded. That meant something important.  Auron turned his head and looked behind him.  Rikku was the closest person, being only a few feet back.  He said nothing, only looking in her eyes as he whipped his Katana off of his back.  She slowly nodded and flexed her hands inside her claws, apparently signaling that she was ready.  It seemed as if everyone else took the hint and readied their weapons.

Auron closed his eye and focused his mind on the footsteps again, trying his best to gauge their distance.  His mind then began a count until when he thought the soldier would turn the corner.   

Five…Four…Three…Two…One…

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Author's notes

1—It's all coming down to the wire now!!  *Puts hands together and gives an evil glare.*  "Excellent."

2—All names, characters, places, and events referred to are copyrighted by Squaresoft.

3—Hmm….since you've read this far, go ahead and click that little review button and tell me what you think.  To everyone that has reviewed, thanks for the continued support, which means volumes to me.  I owe you 3 dollars of Canadian money.

4—Until next chapter, always remember that "When in danger, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout."